I know it has been too long since I posted.

The week has been a busy one.  I am adding a few of my journal entries for the past week and will try to do better in the future.



Wednesday 16 August 2017

President Briggs inspecting the name tags for the incoming missionaries

This evening we got a call from Sister Howes asking if we could come to the MTC.  Seven of the missionaries had arrived early and they thought if President Thatcher and President Briggs came they could do some of the interviewing  which would make less of that tomorrow with this unusually large intake.   We rushed over and had a wonderful evening with the new missionaries and The Howes and Briggs.

We anticipate a very busy day tomorrow.  There will be greeting all the missionaries, who arrive at different times throughout the day - making them feel loved and welcome - registering them - interviewing them all - making callings to the ones that will be the zone leaders, district leaders, and Sister Training leaders - introducing them to their companions and districts - feeding them - giving them tours of the MTC - holding meetings and . . .

Sister Briggs always gets nervous about intake days.  Sister Howes walks around handling so many things at once.  She definitely ‘walks with purpose’ which how President Howes tells the missionaries to walk.  He doesn’t like them wasting time walking slowly.  President Howes actually told me this week that he likes to see me walk.  (If any of you have gone walking with me you understand what he is talking about).  I can walk down the long hall at the MTC at quite a clip!  Sister Howes told me that on intake days her step count on her phone is 25,000 steps or there about.  That is like a day at Disneyland! So that gives you an insight into what an  ‘Intake Day’ is like and how our feet feel at the end of those days.

some of the luggage that arrived today with the new missionaries

Thursday 17 August 2017   "Intake 12 Day"

We arrived at the MTC before 7:00 am today.  Sister Howes told us that the first transport of missionaries were on their way from the airport.  We have a big group coming from the United States.  We know how tired they will be having so recently made that flight but the won't be resting today.  There is a big day scheduled for them here at the MTC.  They will be welcomed, interviewed, photographed, measured for temple clothing, email home and assigned companions and districts. They will also work in their classrooms and attend a welcome meeting and instruction in the evening.   We know they will be ready to fall into bed tonight.

This is the biggest intake of missionaries since President and Sister Howes arrived in January.  The MTC feels busy and full.  We can even pronounce many of the names because a big group is from the US.  All of the missionaries in this new group will be leaving in 3 weeks - there are no ESL missionaries in the bunch.  This means that in three week we will lose all the missionaries because those still here from the last intake will have finished their 6 weeks of learning English. But until then we will be bursting at the seams.  The cafeteria is the most congested room.  We have added new tables and chairs and all are in use.

first day meeting

Friday 18 August 2017

Elder Benson and Elder Rosa -companions
Elder Benson comes from a strong LDS family - Yes! he is related to President Ezra Taft Benson  - Elder Rosa is the only member of the church from his Catholic family who asked him to leave when he joined the church - It touches my heart to see them. 

It was our temple day with the Missionaries today. We usually go the week after they arrive on a Thursday but the Temple closes tomorrow for a couple of weeks and 3 of the missionaries need to receive their Endowments, so we went today.


With such a large intake we took two buses. It was quite a sight to see that many missionaries (78) along with the 6 of us in the Presidency entering the temple. We stretched its capacity but it was a wonderful stretching. They always fix us a delicious luncheon there. Today they had to close the cafeteria to everyone else as the missionaries took all the tables and chairs available.


As the session was about to begin a woman walked in and sat down on the front row. I turned to Sister Howes and asked if she recognized her. it was Sister Elaine Dalton, past General Young Women’s President of the church. I told Sister Alofipo on my other side and she became very excited, “She came to my Stake and had 3 generations of my family stand and be recognized!” she whispered. I think she got to talk to her in the Celestial room after the session. Sister Dalton was in New Zealand for ‘Time Out for Women’.


After the session and luncheon we drove the ½ mile to the Matthew Cowley Church History Museum of the Pacific. I was excited to go because Paul had emailed me information on our relative Joseph Hodges that had served in New Zealand in 1899. I was anxious to have him added to Sister Rangi Parkers massive history of the early missionaries. She was there, sitting at her computer in her office. I walked in with my computer in tow and transferred the email Paul had sent to her computer. She will add it to the collection.


I just love Sister Parker. She has done an amazing work and all who meet her are drawn to her. She touches you and you feel like she is one of your dearest friends. I also told her I am trying to collect information on Wendell Ohlwiler from Paradise, and his mission to Tahiti. She gets so excited about things like this. Then I showed her the pictures of her on my blog and played for her the recording of her telling the story of the little blind boy, her cousin. I told her that all of our grandchildren are hearing her tell that story. It pleased her.


One of my favorite moments of the day was with Sister Wang. She is our sweet dear Sister Missionary from Mainland China. She came not speaking a word of English and of course no one else here spoke any Chinese. She has worked hard and we all love her. She is beautiful and so gentle and feminine and classy. Well, this morning as the missionaries were boarding the bus she realized she didn't have her recommend. She dashed to her room to search but it was lost. Sister Howes told her she needed to talk to President Howes but that there might not be time to issue her one. President Howes dashed to his office telling her that she should have told him earlier. She was upset I could tell. When we got on the bus she was sitting alone. President and Sister Howes were on the other bus. You are supposed to sit by your companion but since the last intake had left for their missions and her companion had been one of that group she had been put in a threesome. She sat there so still and alone. I could tell she was very shaken.


When we were underway I moved up and sat next to her and told her everything would be alright and not to worry. We are supposed to study the first half hour of the drive to the temple and I asked her if she would like to read with me. She opened her scriptures to D&C 121 and we began to read quietly together out of her English scriptures but with her Chinese opened as well. We would read a verse and I would help her with the pronunciation of the difficult words. We would repeat the words until she could say them and then she would turn to her Chinese scriptures and read the same verse. I loved watching he light of understanding come to her eyes. 'Beautiful!' she would say. She told me this was the only time she had read the scriptures in English that she had always just read them in Chinese. 'It help me." she said. Those were such sweet moments together.


After we finished she whispered to me, "I don't think Heavenly Father wants me to go to the temple today because I hate my companion. I know I am suppose to love but I hate." In her broken English she tried to explain to me that she wasn't getting any sleep. I thought she was telling me that her companions talked all night but I found out later it was that they snored all night and she couldn't sleep. Then their alarms would go off earlier than needed and she was the only one they woke up. her companions would sleep through the alarms.


I tried to comfort her and told her I loved her. When we got to the Temple President Howes had a recommend ready for her. I think the day went well. She has seemed happy since. Her companions are sweet and dear as well. Imagine how hard it must be for some of these missionaries who have left everything they know and are somewhere trying to learn to communicate in a new language. Always pray for the Missionaries. They need miracles every day. They need courage and strength and many of them need sleep.

Sister Wang and I on the bus

Saturday 19 August 2017

Darling woman from the Philippines we met at the Health Food Store - Can anyone guess what we were doing there?

This cute little woman helped us at the store today and told us that her mother had loved the Mormon missionaries back home in the Philippines. She said they had been so helpful to her mother even helping her with her home and garden. Elder Thatcher gave her this Book of Mormon. It was our best missionary effort today as our appointment with the Jehovah Witness man fell through for the 3rd time.

We went to Botany Town Center to shop and for Elder Thatcher to get a haircut that cost him 27$. I bought some scarves and saw a darling fairy tea set but since it cost 89$ it was quite easy to resist. I was satisfied with just a picture.

Tempting with the paintings of Cicely Mary Barker on them

I spotted these Harry Potter books. They look different from those I've seen back home. Do you think these are the New Zealand variety or have you seen these as well?

Colorful HP books of New Zealand

"Please do not climb on my house! by order of The Bottom Hobbit

We spotted this cute little Hobbit House while shopping today. Elder Thatcher tells me that we no longer need to go to Hobbiton. Of course I disagree - how shallow his understanding!

We went to the MTC tonight for a Progress Meeting with the missionaries and also for our presidency meeting only to learn that the presidency meeting was supposed to be at 4:00.  We're not sure how we missed that memo but we enjoyed the evening at the MTC. We held a meeting with the two senior couples that are there this week and enjoyed that very much.  Elder and Sister Mendenhall are going to Fiji.  They have already served a mission in Nepal and one other place.  The Schwenke's are going to Samoa.  They live in Sydney and Jerusha Hobby Howes father, President Hobby is their Stake President.  They love him!  Paul and I love him too having met the Hobby family when we went to Australia for Luke and Jerusha's wedding. Small world in the church.

The Moroni room all set up and ready for Sacrament Meeting tomorrow

We love getting fun texts from the kids. This came from Katie today;

My conversation with Jonny this morning:
Are you excited to be potty trained?
Jonny: I want some trains!

From Lorraine
74.5" tall and I just ordered him size 15 shoes!

 

From Andrea

"It's been an amazing year for blackberries! Benson said as he was carrying these, "This is a lot of hard work!" Thank you for sharing your harvest with us!!

Brothers and Berries

We loved a talk Laura sent that Andrew had given. I don't dare post it without Andrew's permission but it was great and he wrote it himself.

Kaitlin and Maddie

Kaitlin and Maddie reported that they and Brig had great Clinic visits. There was not even a mention of a hospital stay.

Anna and her little shadow Ray

Cousin encounter while shopping
Eric, Thatcher, Alison, Megan, Emily, Lauren, Lindy and Silvie

This bit of news from Thatcher

Hey this is Thatcher. Hope you’re having a great time in New Zealand. This week is a tennis tournament. I’m going to play with Matt. If Matt plays well we might win.

The Ellis' at the MTC open house in Provo
Lauren, Alison, Jett, Thatcher, Lindy, Greg, Eric and Silvie

Touring the new MTC
Claire, Millie, Paul, Ty, Ivie, Jen, Gracie

Hitting the Courts - Emma, Will, June

Ty looking cool in the sun

We love you all and love to hear from you.  Thank you for the mail and the emails and the fun pics.  We are so thankful for your good lives and all the things you do for each other.  We pray for you every day and hope all goes well in your many, happy, varied lives.  Be true!

 Love, 
Mom and Dad
Elder and Sister Thatcher